Growing Strong Feelings
A Coloring & Activity Book featuring Lynn the Bunny
Big feelings are a normal part of growing up. This book helps children name those feelings, find tools that help, and remember that they are stronger than they think.
It is part coloring book, part activity book, and part story, created by Kathee Foxan, LISW, LCSW, founder of Lynnway Counseling.
Prefer to buy in person? Call 563-242-2890 and we will set one aside for you at our Clinton office.
What is inside the book?
Every page gives kids something to do with their hands while they think about how they feel. Children follow Lynn the Bunny as she learns about her own feelings, one page at a time.
- Coloring pages with Lynn, her friends, flowers, and butterflies.
- Strength Tools, a toolbox to color and fill with calming ideas like Bunny Breaths, positive self-talk, and taking a break.
- Fill-in-the-blank pages where children write what they can do when they feel worried, sad, or angry.
- Patches to earn along the way, like the Toolbox Patch: "I have good strategies and strengths that help me."
- Kind reminders on every spread, such as "Kind hearts make the world brighter."
Who is Lynn the Bunny?
Lynn the Bunny is based on a real ragdoll. Kathee's mom, Lynn, worked as a visiting nurse aide, and one of her clients made handmade dolls. When Kathee's daughter was little, Lynn brought one of those bunnies home to her.
Her daughter still has that bunny today. After Lynn passed, she had it tattooed as a way to keep her grandmother close. Now that same bunny is the hero of this book.
The dedication says it best: "May this book help children everywhere know that their feelings matter, they are never alone, and they are enough just as they are."
Why is it called Lynnway?
People sometimes ask where the name Lynnway Counseling comes from. The name, the book, and even the decor in our office all carry personal meaning. Here is the story in Kathee's own words.
My mom was always incredibly proud of me and of the things I accomplished. Whenever I reached a milestone, she had a way of making sure everyone knew about it. She would beam with pride and say, "And she did it ALL BY HERSELF!"
She also believed I needed to find a way to do the work I loved without working the very long hours I had always felt compelled to work. So when I decided to open my own mental health agency, in many ways it was my attempt to finally do things my mom's way. To do things Lynn's Way.
More than anything, I hope that Lynnway Counseling is befitting of my mom's legacy, and that wherever she is, she is looking down on all that we have built here and saying, with all the pride she always had for me, "And she did it ALL BY HERSELF!"
How do I get a copy?
Growing Strong Feelings makes a thoughtful gift for children, families, teachers, and anyone who works with kids.
Order online
Pay securely online with Square. Shipping is included in the $12 price.
Pick one up at our office
Call 563-242-2890 to buy a copy at Lynnway Counseling in Clinton, Iowa. You can also find the book at our community events.
Does your child need more support?
A coloring book is a great place to start talking about feelings. If your child's feelings seem bigger than a book can hold, our team is here to help. New clients can call 563-221-2183 for intake information.